MN legislature picking up pace with three weeks remaining in session

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – The Minnesota legislature has just three weeks to finalize a budget; the House and Senate will adjourn on May 19th, ideally without needing extra time in a special session to wrap things up.

The capitol has seen a noticeable shift in pace over the last week, as both chambers have ramped up both the frequency and length of their floor sessions.

Both sides have praised collaborative efforts as of late, especially those in the Minnesota House — which is currently in a 67-67 tie. Legislative leaders say they maintain their differences in approach, but they’ve been holding regular and productive meetings.

There’s an optimism that collaborative work will continue.

“We can still get this done on time, but we have to focus on Minnesota, on what we know, the financial picture that we have been left with. We will be able to get that done and over the finish line,” said Speaker Lisa Demuth (R - Cold Spring).

Much work remains in several key areas of the budget — namely, education and healthcare — but committee leads are working to come up with compromises.

“We are still stuck on a couple of things on our health budget,” said Demuth last Wednesday, “but our Human Services budget — even though there were some reductions made Democrats and Republicans in the House — our chairs and co-chairs came together and did a phenomenal job coming up with a budget that will be able to get passed off the House floor.”

Still, any number of things could throw a wrench into negotiations. Often there are a number of “sticking points” that arise as the clock winds down on the session.

“There will be things that emerge that we have to find resolution for. That is the way this body works. And so I think the more that we’re surfacing them now, the better off we are in being able to resolve them,” said Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL - Saint Paul)

The hope is to pass the “easier” bills first, to clear the way for negotiations on other bills.

“As we get more of the bills on the table, then we can, you know, start to solve the problems that are across issue areas,” said Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (DFL - Brooklyn Park)

Lawmakers are expected to start meeting over the weekend as the end of session draws closer.